All Flashcards
What happens to the electric potential (V) as the distance (r) from a point charge approaches infinity?
V approaches 0.
What is the effect of doing work by an electric field on potential energy?
It decreases the potential energy.
What happens when a charge moves along an equipotential line?
No work is done.
What happens to kinetic energy when it is converted to potential energy?
Kinetic energy decreases and potential energy increases, conserving total energy.
For a point charge, what is the shape of equipotential lines?
Concentric circles centered on the charge.
What is the relationship between electric field lines and equipotential lines?
Electric field lines are always perpendicular to equipotential lines.
Define electric potential energy ().
The energy a charge possesses due to its position in an electric field.
Define electric potential (V).
Electric potential energy per unit charge; the 'push' available to move a charge.
What are equipotential lines?
Lines or surfaces where the electric potential is constant. No work is done moving a charge along them.
Define 'work' in the context of electric forces.
Work is done when moving charges in an electric field, overcoming the electric force.
What are Volts (V)?
The unit of electric potential, equivalent to Joules per Coulomb (J/C).